Michael Caine

Prolific British film actor Michael Caine rose to fame as an icon of London's 'swinging '60s,' but four decades later, having contributed to some of cinematic history's highest <i>and</i>...
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Actress Lizabeth Scott has died, aged 92. Scott passed away on 31 January (15) at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after suffering congestive heart failure.
She was known for her deep voice and glamorous looks, and her roles in a series of film noir classics.
In 1947 she starred in I Walk Alone with Burt Lancaster, and opposite Charlton Heston in Dark City in 1950, while she also boasted Humphrey Bogart, Dean Martin and Elvis Presley among her co-stars.
Her last major role was in 1972 movie Pulp opposite Sir Michael Caine and Mickey Rooney, and her career has been commemorated with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.

Saturday Night Live is celebrating it's 40th anniversary this year and it's had some very memorable cast members (Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey, Adam Sandler to name a few) at studio 8H, and then there are some people who are very memorable actors, but we all sort of forgot their brief moments on the sketch comedy.
1. Robert Downey Jr. (85-86)
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Robert Downey Jr. as suitcase boy, giving a "confrontational monologue"...it's not all that surprising he lasted only 1 season. But he's clearly moved on to bigger and better things.
2. Anthony Michael Hall (85-86)
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To this day, Anthony Michael Hall still holds the title for youngest cast member on SNL, having joined when he was only 17-years-old in order to break his "geek" film typecast. He later admit he'd underestimated how competitive the show was.
3. Gilbert Gottfried (80-81)
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We thought it was impossible to forget that voice, but it was on SNL for a year.
4. Damon Wayans (85-86)
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Wayans is best known for his time on In loving Color, it's easy to forget the year he spent at SNL.
5. Jenny Slate (09-10)
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You may or may not remember her time on SNL, as it wasn't that long ago, but you may remember someone dropping the F-bomb on live TV for the first time on this show. That was her.
6. Ben Stiller (1989)
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His time as a featured player was brief, but this Weekend Update review of Rain Man with SNL legend Mike Meyers was a shining moment.
7. Billy Crystal (84-85)
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If you've been following SNL since the early days, you might not have forgotten about Billy Crystal and the many characters he portrayed in his 1-season run, but maybe you forgot the time he got Mr. T and Hulk Hogan to crack up on live TV.
8. Julia Louis-Dreyfus (82-85)
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Maybe you're obsessed with Veep or still haven't gotten over Seinfeld, either way with such an extensive career, it's easy to forget Julia's early days on SNL (though she was the youngest woman ever cast at at 21-years-old).
9. Sarah Silverman (93-94)
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While there aren't many (if any) videos of Sarah's stint (she did mainyl write) on SNL 22 years ago, she does say she's happy that doesn't define her career.
10. Joan Cusack (85-86)
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Her short time on SNL wasn't a bump in the road, but actually the spark that ignited her 30+ year career.
11. Rob Riggle (04-05)
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You may not always recognize Rob Riggle by name, but you'll easily remember him from 21 Jump Street and Step Brothers. During his short time on SNL, he did impressions of Larry the Cable Guy, Toby Keith, and Howard Dean.
12. David Koechner (95-96)
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Before his Anchorman days, he became buddies with Will Ferrell when they were both cast members on this show.
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British actor Bernard Kay has died, aged 86. The Doctor Who star was found dead at his London home on Monday (29Dec14). The cause of death was unknown as WENN went to press.
His passing was confirmed by fellow actor Toby Hadoke, who wrote on Twitter.com, "It is worth (with) great regret that I announce the sad death of the actor Bernard Kay who passed away over Christmas aged 86. RIP Bernard."
Kay starred in many British TV programmes from the start of his career in 1950 including Doctor Who, soap operas Emmerdale and Coronation Street, and medical drama Casualty.
His most notable film appearance was as a Bolshevik leader in 1965's Doctor Zhivago.
He was married to Michael Caine's ex-wife, Patricia Haines, until her death in 1977.

If there's one thing we've learned throughout the years, it's that it just isn't Christmas until we've watched a slew of movies putting us in the mood. Nobody puts us in the mood quite like the Brits do. It makes sense, considering the king of the Christmas story, Charles Dickens, is British too. Don't believe us when we say the British do it better? Take a look:
Scrooge (1970)
Not the only Dickens adaptations on this list, this musical adaptation has the distinction of toting a Golden Globe. Albert Finney won the statue for his turn as the titular Ebenezor Scrooge in this film that your kids will probably love.
Love Actually (2003)
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Every British actor, almost ever, is in this movie: Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Freeman, The Walking Dead's Andrew Lincoln, and even The Maze Runner's Thomas Brodie-Sangster. The film follows eight different couples as they all work out their love lives during the Christmas season. It's so good that you'll love it without questioning its morality (we're looking at you, Keira Knightley and Andrew Lincoln). It's simply not the holiday season until you've watched this movie at least once. We recommend weekly viewings.
The Holly and the Ivy (1952)
This underrated classic, named for the traditional British Christmas carol and adapted from the Wynyard Browne play, has more to offer than meets the eye. A clergyman who neglected his children has his issues come to the surface during Christmas. The film poses questions about life and the meaning of the holiday in a way that's notedly part Chekhov and part comedy of manners.
Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
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We're not really into the idea of 'spirit animals,' but if we had one, it would take the form of Bridget Jones. Though this movie isn't technically a holiday movie, the film's premise is fixed on Bridget's New Years' resolution, so it'll help you gear up for that. Plus, Colin Firth wears an ugly Christmas sweater AND plays Mark Darcy, in a nod to his Mr. Darcy days of Pride and Prejudice (the film is a modern adaptation of the Austen novel). It's hilarious and will be your best friend anytime you feel lonely this holiday season. Trust us.
Arthur Christmas (2011)
Santa's clumsy son tries to save one girl's Christmas after realizing his father failed to deliver her gift. Arthur Claus sets off on his mission with his grandfather, a rebellious elf, and a team of reindeer in this funny and enjoyable movie. It's a Golden Globe nominated fresh take on the holiday premise, thanks to its high-tech Santa Claus.
Millions (2004)
An enormous bag of money falls into the hands of a little boy just days before England converts to the Euro (what?). The Euro part might sound a bit strange, but the Danny Boyle-directed film works on multiple levels. It's enjoyable for kids and adults alike. It'll leave you feeling great about mankind, and that's in the spirit of Christmas after all, isn't it?
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
If your kids didn't love the Albert Finney Dickens adaptation, there's always this version, with Michael Caine playing Scrooge along with The Muppets. Kermit the Frog plays Scrooge's business partner, Bob Cratchit. It may not be the best version of the story, but it'll make you laugh and it'll warm your heart. It's also a great way to introduce kids to the classic Dickens tale!
The Holiday (2006)
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The Holiday is the sort of movie that's so good, it's perfectly acceptable to watch all year long. At least, we do. Kate Winslet's performance as a woman with a mean case of unrequited love gives us all the feels. She switches houses with unlucky-in-love Cameron Diaz, and along come Jack Black and Jude Law to sweep the ladies (and the viewers) off their feet. Pour a glass (or a bottle) of wine, and enjoy this movie, whether it's the holiday season or not.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger was crowned Cigar Smoker of the Year at an awards dinner in London on Sunday (16Nov14). The Terminator star saw off competition from Kelsey Grammer, who was runner-up, and Sir Michael Caine, Ricky Gervais, Laurence Fishburne and London mayor Boris Johnson, who were all nominated for the prize.
Schwarzenegger and Grammer both attended the Spectator Cigar Awards Dinner and there seemed to be no rivalry among them as they were spotted sitting together.
The former muscleman joked, "When you've been a body building champion, and you've done movies and you've done all the various things which I have done, you receive a lot of trophies and a lot of awards. But I can tell you one thing, this one tonight is really the most... recent."

Japanese movie star Ken Takakura has died, aged 83. The actor passed away at a hospital in Tokyo, Japan on 10 November (14) after a battle with lymphoma.
Takakura's death has prompted a flood of tributes on Twitter.com from fellow Japanese celebrities including Thor: The Dark World star Tadanobu Asano, who expressed his sadness in a message posted on the social networking website.
Takakura began his career in film in the 1950s and became known for his portrayal of movie tough guys, rising to international fame with a role 1970 war film Too Late the Hero with Henry Fonda and Sir Michael Caine.
He followed it up by appearing in Sydney Pollack's 1971 drama The Yakuza, playing a Japanese gangster opposite Robert Mitchum, and he went on to star with Michael Douglas in 1989 action movie Black Rain.
His other films include The Yellow Handkerchief, Poppoya and Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles.
Takakura won the best actor trophy at the Japanese version of the Academy Awards four times and was honoured for his career achievements with Japan's Order of Culture award last year (13).

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch will be honored for his services to the U.K. film industry at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) in December (14).
The Sherlock star will receive the Variety award at the London prizegiving for helping "focus the international spotlight on the U.K." in addition to his Best Actor nomination for his role in The Imitation Game.
Cumberbatch says, "I am delighted to receive this prestigious award and would like to thank Variety and The Moet British Independent Film Awards for this incredible honor... It is made even more special by the recognition of The Imitation Game in this year's nominations, a film I am very proud to be a part of."
Previous recipients of the award include Sir Michael Caine, Dame Helen Mirren and Jude Law.
The winners will be announced on 7 December (14).

Veteran actor Sir Michael Caine has only been left starstruck by two famous faces in his life - Frank Sinatra and Calista Flockhart. The British icon's career in entertainment spans more than six decades, but in all the interactions with fellow celebrities over the years, he has only been rendered speechless by one music legend and one actress from his favourite TV programme.
He tells the U.K.'s Daily Express, "With Sinatra, we were travelling in a private jet across America in the 1970s after the success of Get Carter. I sudden realised who I was with and shut up.
"He asked me what was wrong. I said, 'It is unbelievable for me to be sitting here with you,' and he said, 'When I first came to Hollywood in 1938 I found myself with my hero Ronald Colman and just lost my voice altogether."
Caine revealed that the other odd meeting was with someone fans would not expect the Oscar winner to be at a loss of words over.
He continues, "With Calista, I was a big fan of her TV show Ally McBeal. We were at the Golden Globe awards in Los Angeles and she suddenly waved. I looked behind my chair, wondering if it was for somebody else.
"So there's me acting like Joe Soap because I always feel such an idiot if I wave back and it's not me they are waving at. I came over all shy. I swear I even blushed."

Daniel Radcliffe's magical new role in the Now You See Me sequel has been confirmed, weeks after co-star Michael Caine let the big casting news slip during an interview.
The Harry Potter star will be back to his old tracks, alongside returning stars Caine, Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson and Dave Franco, according to a Lionsgate studio representative. It's not clear if Isla Fisher, who was recently reported to be pregnant with her third child, will be back for the new film.
Lizzy Caplan and Taiwanese superstar Jay Chou will also appear in the sequel, which will be directed by Jon M. Chu.

Actor Mark Strong has dismissed reports suggesting he will be playing the villain in the next James Bond movie, insisting a hiking vacation he took with old pal Daniel Craig was behind the latest casting rumours. The two Brits set off to walk across the Atlas Mountains in Africa recently and when a photograph of the friends hit the Internet, 007 casting speculation quickly followed.
Strong tells WENN, "Daniel is a very good friend of mine. We've known each other for years and he's a godfather to my eldest child. The reason these rumours came about is because recently we went on a walking tour together in the Atlas Mountains. We took some time off to have some friend time; we hadn't seen each other for ages. Busy schedules mean you can't see each other and don't see your mates for a long time. And we went walking together.
"Someone took a picture and everybody's come to the conclusion I must be the new bad guy in the new Bond movie!"
Strong admits he'd love to be considered for the role because Bond villains are almost as iconic as the superspy, but he feels he might be better suited to playing one of 007's sidekicks after transitioning from playing bad guys to spies on the big screen.
The Kick-Ass 2 star explains, "For some reason I played bad guys for a while, for a few years. I don't quite know what's happened but now it's spies!
"I was a spy in Body of Lies, a film I did with Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio; he was the head of the Jordanian secret service. In Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy I was a spy. In The Imitation Game, that's coming out with Benedict Cumberbatch, I'm a spy. Secret Service that I'm doing with Michael Caine, Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Firth, I'm another spy. I mean, it's unbelievable. I don't know quite what's happening but there's a whole spy thing going on."

Received second Best Actor Oscar nomination for his work opposite Laurence Olivier in "Sleuth"

Portrayed Joseph Stalin in the NBC miniseries "World War II: When Lions Roared"

Summary

Prolific British film actor Michael Caine rose to fame as an icon of London's 'swinging '60s,' but four decades later, having contributed to some of cinematic history's highest <i>and</i> lowest moments, he was recognized as an international film legend. Caine initially seemed an unlikely movie star, with his glasses and working class cockney accent, but with films like "The Ipcress File" (1965) and "Alfie" (1966), he came to personify the cultural upheaval of 1960s Britain, when the smashing of class barriers finally meant that regular blokes had a shot at the spotlight. With his foundation in repertory theater, Caine had already played hundreds of characters by the time he hit it big, and that background made him one of the most versatile leading actors on film. He deftly transitioned from gritty mobster ("Get Carter"), to scheming soldier ("The Man Who Would Be King"), warm-hearted doctor ("The Cider House Rules"), charming con man ("Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"), erudite professor ("Educating Rita") to transvestite psychologist murderer ("Dressed to Kill"). Caine convincingly inhabited some of the best-known characters in literature and world history - not through self-analysis and method acting, but by holding up a mirror to the audience, presenting them with truths about themselves. His realistic acting style and ability to connect with an audience earned the actor a reputation for being approachable and down-to-earth, despite his ultra-luxury lifestyle and bona fide star status. For Caine, this was no act, as he had risen from the poorest of the poor with all odds seemingly stacked against him.

Name

Role

Comments

David Burchell

Half-Brother

Born in 1925; suffered brain damage through epilepsy as a child and was physically disabled; mother had given him as an infant to foster parents; was institutionalized for 40 years; died of pneumonia in March 1992

Education

Name

Wilson's Grammar School

Notes

Caine's original stage name was Michael Scott. In order to get a TV role, he was required to join Actors Equity and there was already another Michael Scott in the union. From a phone box in a London street, on a call to his agent and pressed for time, the actor spotted a cinema marquee advertising "The Caine Mutiny" and quickly chose Caine as his new surname.

In 1976, Caine opened a restaurant in London, Langen's Brasserie. Twenty years later, he was the owner of six restaurants worldwide.

Caine's brother David's existence in a mental hospital was kept secret from him for over 40 years although his mother visited David regularly until she died in 1989.

On accepting his Golden Globe Award during the 1999 telecast, Caine quipped, "My career must be slipping. This is the first time I've ever been able to pick up an award."

"The cinema is my stage – I love the buzz, the adrenaline. The theatre is as hazardous as ice-skating, why do it if you don't have to? Both activities are high risk and low reward. Anyway, there is more money in making films and more enjoyment." – Caine quoted in the London Times, Jan. 30, 1999

In June 2000, Caine was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

When he won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 2000 for "The Cider House Rules," Caine became only the second British male to have won two Academy Awards. The first was Peter Ustinov.

Caine puts it all down to class. "I'm every bourgeois' nightmare," he drawls. "A Cockney with intelligence and a million dollars. They think they should have done it, but then why didn't they, if they were so much smarter and more intelligent than this stupid Cockney git? So their revenge is to say 'he's not a real actor, he's a Cockney actor.' It's like calling Tony Hopkins a Welsh actor or Sean Connery a Scots actor. Why am I a 'Cockney actor' and they are just actors?"

"Now I've got incredible reviews as an American doctor. But it'll still be 'good ol' Cockney, go down the pub and have some jellied eels, Michael'. I haven't been in a pub since God knows when, and I've never had jellied eels." He shudders. "I couldn't eat them, it'd be horrible. But it doesn't worry me. I'm only talking about it because it's come up now. I wouldn't otherwise." – from the London Times, Feb. 16, 2000

The band Bottlefly paid tribute to the actor with the song "Michael Caine" in 2000.

"You get to a stage where you need the work less. It's harder to get up in the morning, because you're getting older and you're fussier and fussier about what you do. Anything I do is going to be a joy – Supposedly. You can still make mistake. But I don't do movies to pay the rent: I do them because I really want to. And also, of course, when you get older, you become a movie actor again instead of a movie star, and you get much more interesting roles." – Caine to Film Comment magazine, March/April 2004

"The great thing about acting, people say, 'Aren't you a bit old for acting?' I say, 'Well, how old are the people in the story? Do they have stories where there aren't any 80-year-olds in it or 75-year-olds?' They always need someone that age, you know? So it intrigues me." – Caine quoted to CNN.com, June 21, 2005

Caine was made a Commander of Arts and Letters in France after receiving the country's highest cultural honor on Jan. 6, 2011.